Detonating device



Aug. 14, 1945. .MBER 2,382,879-

, DETONATING DEVICE Filed Jan. 7, 19342 INVENTOR 'ATTomrvs' PatentedAug. 14, 1945 Application January 7, 1942, Serial No. 425,933 In GreatBritain December 31, 1940 3 Claims.

This invention relates to detonating devices for aircraft pyrotechnicdevices, bombs and the like and has for its object to provide animproved detonating device of much simpler construction than thosehitherto in use which is readily adaptable for mass production and muchcheaper to produce.

It has in the past been customary to use detonating devices for thepurposes stated which had the characteristics of shell fuzes. In caseswhere such devices, when dropped from aircraft, are intended to explodeat a predetermined height the robust and complicated construction of ashell type of fuze is no longer necessary and the present invention isdesigned to enable the base only of the detonating device to be ofrobust construction.

According to the invention detonating mechanism for aircraft pyrotechnicdevices, bombs and the like is provided including a casing having aremovable cover of light gauge metal adapted to house a fuze capsuleconstructed as an independent unit and arranged when inserted within thesaid cover to be operatively positioned in relation to a detonating capand striker pin and to communicate with a flare charge or burstingcharge.

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawing which illustratesby way of example a construction according to the invention and inwhich:

Fig. 1 is an elevation, partly in section showing a detonating devicewith the parts in the inoperative positions and Fig. 2 is a detail viewof the fuze capsule.

In the construction illustrated, the base plug I of the detonatingdevice has secured thereto by screws 2, a fuse body 3 over which a cover8 is removably mounted. The base plug l which is adapted to be screwedinto the casing of the flare or the like and the body 3 are formed ascastings but the cover 4 is of lightgauge sheet metal; The cover 4 isadapted to be secured in position by providing it withinternallyprojecting studs 28 which enter vertical grooves in the iuzebody 3. By partially rotating the cover thereafter the studs 28 enterinclined portions of the said grooves and thereby engage the cover tothe fuze body. The cover is prevented from being unintentionallydetached by a spring locking finger 5 which engages serrations 29 formedon the exterior of the fuze body 3. The cover 4 houses a fuze capsule 6also of light gauge metal, which is circular in plan and comprises twotruncated. conical portions united by a central cylindrical portion asshown in Fig. 2. The capsule 6 houses a length of fuze 1 which may be,for example, of the Bickford type and whose length determines the timeperiod which elapses between the detonating action and the ignition orexplosion of the main charge. The ends of the fuze I extend respectivelyinto central bosses 8 and 9 formed in the capsule 6, the lower boss 9seating in a recess Ill in the body 3 which communicates with anignition or other charge H. The upper boss 8 seats within the lower endof a striker tube l2 fixed centrally within the cover 4.

I3 indicates the striker which is normally held in-operative by a'safety pin M. The base of the striker terminates in a pin 24 disposedabove a firing cap 25 housed within the lower end of the striker tube l2and spaced from the upper end of the fuze 1, the space between cap andfuze being provided with ports 26 normally sealed by a wraping 21 ofwater proof paper or other combustible material.

When the safety pin I4 is withdrawn, the striker I3 is propelled by anysuitable known means to detonate the firing cap 25 which ignites thefuze I which, after a predetermined lapse of time, is completely burntand explodes or ignites the main charge of the bomb or flare.

To enable the time of operation of the device above described to bevaried, difierent lengths of fuze may be accommodated in separatecapsules all of standard dimensions sothat the time of operation can becontrolled bythe selection of a suitable capsule.

In addition to the advantages which this type of fuze possesses inrespect to ease of manufacture it also has the added advantage that thefilling is reduced to such a simple operation that it is not necessaryto carry it out at a regular filling factory but that it can readily bedone in the factory in which they are made, thereby obviating thetransfer of empty fuzes from one factory to another.

I claim:

1. A fuze capsule for detonating mechanism comprising two frusto-conicalmetal pressings, means for inter-engaging the peripheral portions ofsaid pressings, a hollow boss formed centrally of each pressing andintegral therewith and a length of fuze coiled within said capsule withits ends projecting into said bosses.

2. Detonating mechanism, comprising a base plug adapted for attachmentto an aircraft pyrotechnic device, bomb or the like, a cover removablyconnected to the base plug, said cover having a tubular component, astriker, cap and striker release mechanism housed in said tubularcomtechnic devices and the like, comprising a, casing, 10

a light gauge metal cover connected to said casing, striker mechanismhoused in said cover, a base plug fixed in said casing and adapted forattachment to the pyrotechnic or other device,

and a fuze capsule disposed within said casing and comprisingcooperating light gauge metal pressings having bosses disposed centrallythereof, and a fuze coiled within the capsule and having its endsenclosed by said bosses.

V JACK IMBER.

